Environment

A “SAVE WETLANDS” poster is visible under an seat during a public hearing about Critical Area Regulations Update on ordinance 24-097 on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance

People testified for nearly two hours, with most speaking in opposition to the new Critical Areas Regulation.

 

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

 

Kyle Parker paddles his canoe along the Snohomish River next to Langus Riverfront Park on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Tip to Tip: Kyle Parker begins his canoe journey across the country

The 24-year-old canoe fanatic started in Neah Bay and is making his way up the Skykomish River.

 

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Got Mud?’ Researchers monitor the health of the Puget Sound

For the next few weeks, the state’s marine monitoring team will collect sediment and organism samples across Puget Sound

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

The Snohomish County Council will hold new hearing on habitat ordinance

The Snohomish County Council will hear testimony and consider amendments to its Critical Area Regulations ordinance.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
The golden paintbrush stands several inches high and blooms every summer. (Mosa Neis / Pacific Rim Institute)

Whidbey Island prairie offers opportunities for education and conservation

The Pacific Rim Institute is hosting prairie tours and talks through the weekend

The golden paintbrush stands several inches high and blooms every summer. (Mosa Neis / Pacific Rim Institute)
Ian Terry / The Herald

Zachary Mallon, an ecologist with the Adopt A Stream Foundation, checks the banks of Catherine Creek in Lake Stevens for a spot to live stake a willow tree during a volunteer event on Saturday, Feb. 10. Over 40 volunteers chipped in to plant 350 trees and lay 20 cubic yards of mulch to help provide a natural buffer for the stream.

Photo taken on 02102018

Snohomish County salmon recovery projects receive $1.9M in state funding

The latest round of Climate Commitment Act dollars will support fish barrier removals and habitat restoration work.

Ian Terry / The Herald

Zachary Mallon, an ecologist with the Adopt A Stream Foundation, checks the banks of Catherine Creek in Lake Stevens for a spot to live stake a willow tree during a volunteer event on Saturday, Feb. 10. Over 40 volunteers chipped in to plant 350 trees and lay 20 cubic yards of mulch to help provide a natural buffer for the stream.

Photo taken on 02102018
A Mitsubishi Electric heat pump is installed on the wall of a home on Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Kicking Gas urges households to get in line for subsidies while funds last

The climate justice group has enough funding to aid 80 households with making the transition to heat pumps and electric ranges

A Mitsubishi Electric heat pump is installed on the wall of a home on Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Freylands Elementary fifth grader Vaughn Kipnis takes a turn shoveling dirt to help plant a Niobe Golden Weeping Willow along the banks of Lake Tye during an Arbor Day celebration at Lake Tye Park on Friday, April 28, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. Students from Mrs. Sager and Mrs. Slater’s classes took a field trip to help the city plant the park’s newest tree. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Enjoy spring weather for Arbor Day celebrations

Towns across the county are getting in on tree-planting festivities on Friday and Saturday.

Freylands Elementary fifth grader Vaughn Kipnis takes a turn shoveling dirt to help plant a Niobe Golden Weeping Willow along the banks of Lake Tye during an Arbor Day celebration at Lake Tye Park on Friday, April 28, 2023, in Monroe, Washington. Students from Mrs. Sager and Mrs. Slater’s classes took a field trip to help the city plant the park’s newest tree. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A person holds a sign referencing the recent demolition of a 100-year-old California coast redwood during a city council meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds approves interim ordinance to protect landmark trees from removal

City staff will now begin to work on a permanent solution to be in place by April 2026.

A person holds a sign referencing the recent demolition of a 100-year-old California coast redwood during a city council meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hawthorne Elementary students Kayden Smith, left, John Handall and Jace Debolt use their golden shovels to help plant a tree at Wiggums Hollow Park  in celebration of Washington’s Arbor Day on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Options abound for observance of Earth Day

Earth Day is just around the corner, and The Daily Herald has gathered a handful of events around the county that are getting… Continue reading

Hawthorne Elementary students Kayden Smith, left, John Handall and Jace Debolt use their golden shovels to help plant a tree at Wiggums Hollow Park  in celebration of Washington’s Arbor Day on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County Council member offers new proposal for habitat ordinance

Jared Mead wrote an amendment as an attempt to balance environmental concerns and housing needs.

Adopt A Stream invites volunteers to plant trees along Quilceda Creek

The Tulalip Tribes and the Adopt A Stream Foundation will hold a tree planting at 9 a.m. Saturday on the west fork of… Continue reading

Olaf Strad tributary flows through a small plot of land owned by the Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Adopt a Stream Foundation to host April 12 volunteer event

The nonprofit invites people to walk and roll along Centennial Trail near Arlington to help salmon restoration work.

Olaf Strad tributary flows through a small plot of land owned by the Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A person walks along a trail at Harborview Park with a snow covered Mt. Baker in the background on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Drought advisory issued for Snohomish County and six other counties

The state Department of Ecology also declared a drought emergency for three eastern WA counties.

A person walks along a trail at Harborview Park with a snow covered Mt. Baker in the background on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds is set to revisit its landmark tree ordinance

Tuesday evening city council meeting offers residents first opportunity to comment.

Artist and science communicator Jill Pelto to host 1st art show

New pieces will highlight glaciers, part of the Skykomish and Nooksack watersheds.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring, left, speaks alongside Councilmember Jared Mead in 2023 at Western Washington University Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Panel discusses county’s proposed Critical Areas Regulations ordinance

The council has yet to announce the next public hearing and when it will decide the outcome of the proposed wetlands ordinance.

Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring, left, speaks alongside Councilmember Jared Mead in 2023 at Western Washington University Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Perrinville Creek historically passed in between two concrete boxes before the city of Edmonds blocked the flow constrictor in 2020. (Joe Scordino)

Examiner to decide route of Perrinville Creek

Closing arguments were submitted last week in a hearing that could determine if the creek will be passable for salmon in the next three years.

Perrinville Creek historically passed in between two concrete boxes before the city of Edmonds blocked the flow constrictor in 2020. (Joe Scordino)